South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski (3) drops back to pass as Charleston Southern defensive lineman Shaundre Mims defends, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Hilinski high-fives the coaching staff after he threw a touchdown pass to Logan Loya in the closing seconds of the first half in a game against Centennial at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski (3) drops back to pass as Charleston Southern defensive lineman Shaundre Mims defends, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Hilinski committed to play football for University of South Carolina during a signing ceremony in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Hilinski, right, live streams with Game Cock Nation during a signing where he committed to play football for University of South Carolina as Jasiah Dixon, who committed to play baseball for USC, peeks in during a signing ceremony in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski keeps the ball for a gain against Servite in a Trinity League football game at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Friday, October 19, 2018. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski,signed with South Carolina on Wednesday before a series of trips that eventually will get to Puerto Rico, Texas and eventually to South Carolina.(Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski is the Touchdown Club’s national high school football player of the year. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb)

Orange Lutheran football coach Mike Crawford, left, takes a picture with Ryan Hilinski after a signing ceremony where Hilinski committed to play for University of South Carolina in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Hilinski, left, throws a pass over the defense of Centennial’s Drake Jackson during a game at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran quarterback and South Carolina commit Ryan Hilinski is one of Orange County’s top football recruits in the class of 2019. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Hilinski)

Quarterback Ryan Hilinski, part of the Orange Lutheran football team which starts the 2018 season ranked No. 2 in Orange County, on their practice field in Orange on Friday, August 3, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Quarterback Ryan Hilinski, center, with tight end Ethan Rae, cornerback KJ Trujillo, wide receiver Kyle Ford, and tight end Elijah Mojarro, from left, help make up the Orange Lutheran football team which starts the 2018 season ranked No. 2 in Orange County. Photographed on their practice field in Orange on Friday, August 3, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski embraces his mother, Kym, right, on the sideline following his first TD pass while wearing his deceased brother’s number.(Photo courtesy of Mary Rae)

Orange Lutheran’s Kyle Ford and quarterback Ryan Hilinski, right, celebrate after Hilinski threw a touchdown pass to Ford during a game against Centennial at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski shows the lighthouse tattoo that reminds him of his older brother, Tyler, who died earlier this year. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski shows the lighthouse tattoo that reminds him of his older brother, Tyler, who died earlier this year. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran’s Ryan Hilinski throws a pass during the Nike Football’s The Opening Regionals in Costa Mesa on March 11, 2018. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran senior-to-be Ryan Hilinski earned the QB MVP award and an invite to the Elite 11 at Nike’s The Opening Regional on Sunday in Costa Mesa.

Orange Lutheran’s starting quarterback Ryan Hilinski warms up before a prep football game against La Mirada at La Mirada High School in La Mirada, Calif. on Friday August 25, 2017. (Photo by contributor Raul Romero Jr )

Ryan Hilinski hopes to help Orange Lutheran improve on its Trinity League record in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Gina Paez).

Orange Lutheran quarterback Ryan Hilinski looks to pass against Centennial in the first half of the game in Corona, CA. Friday, Sep. 9, 2016.
TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Ryan and his family dealt with a huge family tragedy after his brother Tyler, who played quarterback at Washington State, committed suicide in January 2018.

Ryan decided to continue playing football to honor his brother after it was discovered that Tyler suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma.

James H. Williams joined the Southern California News Group in 2013 with a passion for sports, social media and journalism that has led to his role as a Digital Sports Producer. During his down time, he finds himself on social media providing scores and stats on local and professional sports. When he is out at a game, he can be found roaming the sidelines and the snack bar at halftime.

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